Safe Environments can assist with the development of Occupational Health & Hygiene Monitoring and Management Plans to provide a clear framework as part of a quality management system to continually improve worker health and reduce the risk of adverse health effects. This may be a standalone document or integrated within the company’s existing WHS management plan. The key contents generally include: 

• Objectives and key performance indicators
• Roles and responsibilities
• Communication and consultation
• Competency and training
• Identification of significant silica and dust hazards
• Defining Similar Exposure Groups (SEGs)
• Health risk assessments
• Decision tree analysis and criteria for exposure acceptability
• Exposure sampling, measurement and reporting (i.e. use of control charts)
• Outlining parameters of critical controls
• Engineering design such as ventilation
• Personal Protective Programs
• Medical surveillance and health monitoring requirements
• Risk reviews
• Incident management
• Reporting and compliance

Critical Control Audit Tools are used to identify physical controls that are to be implemented as part of a visual observation during the inspection. The purpose of the audit tool is to focus on fewer specific control measures that are crucial to prevent or minimise exposure and for them to be monitored more regularly, and routine. As an example, critical controls may include:

• Ventilation assessments general and/or Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV)
• Respirator fit testing
• Personal hearing protection programs
• Dust suppression including misting and wet cleaning methods
• Pressurised cabins/enclosures and filtering systems
• Review of health surveillance programs, screening tests and epidemiological data from the workforce population in consultation with the clients registered medical practitioner

Without a critical control working effectively, workers may be at significant risk of overexposure.

Air monitoring is best done after control measures have been put in place and where controls are implemented, this may provide supporting evidence that air monitoring may not be required. This is because with controls in place, it can be said on reasonable grounds that air monitoring is not required on an ongoing basis if simple verification checks have been put in place.